McMurry

The merger of design agency Manifest Digital and content marketing agency McMurry/TMG is the latest evidence that marketing services are a lucrative and expanding field for media companies. The agencies merged on July 6th to become Manifest, "an agency that connects experience design, emerging technology, and content to create innovative and compelling customer experiences for brands," according to the press release.

Tech website CNET recently became the latest publisher to embrace a surprising trend: Editors decided to launch a print product, even as print magazines and newspapers across the country have struggled.

Experts said they expect this phenomenon, known as reverse publishing, will continue as successful digital publishers seek to grow their audience and advertiser base.

"Nobody is talking about the death of print anymore," said Samir Husni, director of the Magazine Innovation Center at the University of Mississippi. Instead, entities are focusing on creating a relationship with audiences, "regardless of the platform," he said.

Over one hundred and twenty guests attended the Custom Content Council’s Broadway Debut at the Liberty Theatre in New York City last night for the tenth annual Pearl Awards ceremony. Custom content creators and agencies from 15 different countries representing brands such as Disney, Ford, Four Seasons, Whole Foods Market and Lexus submitted 628 total entries this year.

The Publishing Business Conference & Expo (PBC) this week announced a roster of speakers for the 2010 show, highlighted by top executives from publishing companies including Forbes Media, Hanley Wood, Reader's Digest and Food Network magazine.

Phoenix-based custom publisher McMurry Inc. has announced that it acquired Spark, a New York City-based firm specializing in video creation for environments, corporate communications and broadcast, on Oct. 30.